Bidet



B. SYPAL Jan. 20, 1970 BIDET 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 7, 1967 I N V EN TO R B. SYPAL Jan. 29, 1970 BIDET 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. '7, 1967Lww R A I. 7 DI OY IMF. TQM VM M N r T 1 OWN B b 6 m P? B. SYPAL Jan.20, 1970 BIDET Filed Aug.

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IN VE NTO R BOHUMIL United States Patent Ofiice 3,490,080 Patented Jan.20, 1970 3,490,080 BIDET Bohumil Sypal, 48 Highview Crescent, Toronto 4,Ontario, Canada Filed Aug. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 658,834 Int. Cl. A47k 3/22US. Cl. 46 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable bidet useablein association with a permanent plumbing fixture, being designed to hookon the adjacent wall of the fixture and to extend outwardly therefromover the normally unoccupied floor area; the wash vessel of the bidetbeing disposed exteriorly of the permanent plumbing fixture and havingan overflow and/or drainage apron integral with the vessel extendingover the fixture wall and discharging into the fixture. Flexible tubingremovably connectible with convenient water faucets may be used toservice the bidet in a variety of ways, viz for filling the wash vessel,providing a rim flush or supplying a centrally located spray nozzle.

This invention relates to improvements in a bidet and especially to oneuseable with existing plumbing fixtures.

It is usual to install a bidet as a permanent plumbing fixture. Suchitems are expensive and require more floor space than is available inmost modern bathrooms. Many attempts have been made to design sitz bathsfor positioning in a bath tub or toilet bowl but these have failed togain general acceptance for they proved to be inconvenient to supply andempty, uncomfortable to use, and in the minds of many distasteful whenassociated with the toilet bowland furthermore, difficulty wasencountered in developing a single form or style adaptable to allinstalled fixtures because of the wide variety of existing shapes andsizes.

My present device is an economic, portable, universal, space saving,hygienc bidet that may be removably associated with an existing fixtureand so is suitable for the modern small bathroom; readily stored whennot in use, easily set up, and instantly available when wanted.

An object of the invention is to provide a bidet removably attachable toan existing permanent plumbing fixture, preferably a bath tub,comprising a vessel discharging into the supporting plumbing fixture.

A further object is to provide a bidet extending outwardly from thefixture with which it is associated, i.e., projecting into the normallyunoccupied floor area of the room.

A further object is to provide a bidet that is supported at a convenientheight for straddling by the user, that can be supplied as throughremovable tubing with hot and/ or cold water from easily accessiblefaucets and that normally overflows into the associated fixture withoutdanger of spillage.

A still further object is to provide a removable bidet of the naturedescribed, that is capable of assuming many modified forms andincorporating added features such as a centre spray, a two-waypressure/suction pump a 3- or 4-way valve, a flushing rim and the like;that is of light weight, durable and capable of production at reasonablecost.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall becomeapparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly describedwhen reference is had to the drawings forming a part of this disclosurwherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section through a basic form of theinvention showing the same associated with a bath tub;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3A is a vertical, longitudinal sectional detail of a modifieddesign with the discharge apron substantially level with the bottom ofthe wash vessel;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section of a modified form ofbidet, also hooked on the wall of a bath tub;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevation of such modified form;

IGURE 6 is a plan view of the same modified type as shown in FIGURES 4and 5 but illustrating also the manner of incorporating added featuressuch as a centre spray, hand pump, etc.;

FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and 10 are transverse sectional details of a variety ofrim designs;

FIGURE 11 is a transverse section of the rim as taken on line 11-11 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURES 12 and 13 are similar transverse sections as taken on lines 1212and 13-13 respectively of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 14 is a plan view of the spacing block seen in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 15 is a transverse section of the hand screw clamp, as taken online 15-15 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 16 is a vertical, longitudinal section of a modified form ofclamp; and

FIGURE 17 is a transverse section therethrough, as taken on line 17-17of FIGURE 16.

In the simple form of the device shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, areceptacle or wash vessel 1 has an outwardly rolled rim 2 extendingaround both sides 3 and the outer end 4. It will be noted that thebottom 5 slopes and the opposite sides 3 taper toward the forward end 6.An interiorly threaded aperture, shown as plugged, is provided for useas desired. Across its width, the forward end 6 is substantiallydepressed to provide an overflow mouth 7 for the vessel.

An overflow apron 8 extends forwardly from the front end 6 as acontinuance of but preferably below the depressed mouth 7. It is formedintegral with the vessel 1, is disposed below the level of the top ofrim 2, and has walls 9 along opposite sides as forward continuations ofthe rim 2 along the vessels sides to prevent water spillage. The freeforward end of the walled apron 8 terminates in a depending flange 10parallel with but spaced from the fiat front end 6 of the vessel andparallel reinforcing ribs 11 run longitudinally between the front end ofthe vessel and the flange on the underside of the apron 8.

The fixture-engaging forward wall 6 depends below the bottom 5 of vessel1 in a flange 12, and this flanged forward end coacts with the flange 10on the front of the apron 8 to provide an attaching hook to extend overand hook on the wall of a bath 14 or other permanent plumbing fixture.

Because the thickness of the walls of bath tubs and other fixtures vary,an adjustable spacing device such as the slotted blocks 15 may besecured on opposite sides of the front end flange 12, such spacers, sealso FIG- URE 14, (sheet 3), having a plurality of slots 16 to afford achoice of spacing measurement between the vessels front 6 and theoutside of the bath tub wall and to assure that the bidet is mounted ina level position.

In FIGURE 3A (sheet 2), a modified design is shown 3 in which the apron8 is lower than that in FIGURE 1, indeed, it is substantially level withthe bottom and a drain passageway 17 runs from the vessel 1', near thebottom to the apron. An ordinary rubber stopper may be used to plug thisdrain opening when desired.

A more complicated structure is illustrated in FIG- URES 4, 5 and 6.Firstly, it will be seen that the vessel 20 and walled and flangedoverflow apron 21 are similar in design to that shown in FIGURES 1, 2and 3. However, instead of the spacer blocks, a wide clamping jaw 22 isslidably housed in the underside of the vessel 20 and projects from thefront thereof to engage a bath tub Wall, being advanced or retracted bya hand screw 23 threaded therein, a cross-section of which is seen inFIGURE (sheet 3). In FIGURES 16 and 17 (sheet 3), the clamp jaw 22' isprojected by a compressed coil spring 23 and secured in desired positionby a setscrew 23".

This modified design does not rely solely on the apron flange hook tosupport the vessel on the bath tub but employs a prop or leg 24 with aflanged base 25' removably positioned in the center at the outer end ofthe vessel 20. In horizontal -crosssection it is a U-shaped channel withinturned arms and is snugly fitted in an accommodating seat 26 in theunderside of the vessels rim 27. When this bidet is not set up, theremovable prop can be compactly stored alongside the receptacle bysliding it in a correspondingly shaped aperture 28 in the front end andonto a T-shaped hanger 29 on the outside of the vessel.

While the vessel 1 of the simple forms of bidet shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3and 3A may be supplied with water by a flexible tube from a convenientfaucet or otherwise as desired, in this modified form the rim 27 ishollow, defining a passageway that continues through the apron wall 30to a tube-receiving inlet coupling 31. on the end. This hollow rimpassageway terminates in an end wall 33 short of the apron on theopposite side and has a plurality of outlet ports 32 feeding into thevessel along its length. Cross-sectional details in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10(sheet 3) show modified forms that the hollow rim 27', 27", and 27", maytake and each such form will be seen to include rim flush ports 32'.

Some additional features are shown in the further modified form inFIGURE 6. Beyond the rim wall 33 a 3- or 4-way valve 34 is located and aport 35 connects the hollow rim with the valve. Beyond the valve, thehollow rim is vertically divided into two parallel passageways 36-37 andthese passageways continue to the inner end of the apron side wall 38where the former has an inlet tube coupling 39 on its inner end and thelatter has an open outlet port 40.

In the bottom of the vessel, a spray nozzle 41 passes through anaccommodating aperture 42 and connects by a conduit 43 with the valve34. By adjusting the valve 34 water can be directed into the hollow rimand spilled out the rim flush ports 32 or ted to the spray nozzle 41 orflow of water may be reversed through the passageway 37 back to bathtubvia open outlet port 40. An additional feature associated with the bidetis a manually operable pressure-suction pump 44 for providing waterunder controlled pressure to the spray nozzle by drawing off water fromvessel through port opening 45.

Any suitable type of available spray nozzle 3- or 4-way valve andpressure/ suction pump may be employed with this bidet and so theseattachments are not here described in detail.

For a light weight portable, compact, easily stored item, I construct mybidet of a mouldable synthetic plastic material such as polyethylene,polyurethane, etc. or the like, having substantial strength andunimpaired stability under temperatures of up to at least approximately210 F.

In use, unlike other known portable sitz baths, bidets or the like thatare set in a commode chair, toilet bowl or bathtub, my bidet has onlyits overflow and/or .4 drainage portion passing over the wall of theplumbing fixture and the remaining entire wash receptacle is exterior ofsuch fixture, extending out over the normally unoccupied floor area ofthe bathroom. Furthermore, the present device is designed to so engagethe fixture with which it is associated, whether only partly or entirelysupported thereby, in such a way that the rim of the wash vessel thatthe user straddles is at the normal and convenient level. Sitting on thewash vessels rim in the accepted straddling position, the users feetrest on the bathroom floor and he faces or has his back to the permanentfixture and is free to manipulate the water-supplying faucets and suchattachments as the spray nozzle, valve, pump or drain plug with ease.The wide rolled or flat topped rim of the vessel and its narrowingtoward the front end contribute to the structural stability and comfortof using the bidet.

Because it is constructed of a plastic material or suitable equivalent,and the spacing blocks and clamping jaw may be of like material, nodamage is done to the bathtub wall, or other fixture by its repeateduse.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be manifest that a bidet is provided that will fulfilall the necessary requirements of such a device, but as many changescould be made in the above description and many apparently widelydifferent embodiments of the invention may be constructed within thescope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit or scopethereof, it is intended that all matters contained in the saidaccompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limitative or restrictive sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A bidet for removable application to a permanent plumbing fixturecomprising a vessel for association with said fixture to be disposedexteriorly thereof extending outwardly therefrom; said vessel having anintegral overflow apron at one end designed to reach over the adjacentwall of the fixture; said apron being disposed below the level of thetop rim of said vessel and walled on opposite sides so as to deliveroverflow and/ or drainage from said vessel to said fixture.

2. A bidet according to claim 1, wherein the discharge end of said apronhas a depending flange to hook on the inside of the fixture wall.

3. A bidet according to claim 2, wherein said vessel has an adjustablespacing device at its fixture-engaging end for cooperation with thedepending flange of said apron to aid in supporting the device securely.

4. A bidet according to claim 1, wherein said apron is substantiallylevel with the bottom of said vessel, and said vessel has a drain tosaid apron.

5. A bidet according to claim 1, having floor engaging means forsupporting said vessel independent of said fixture engaging apron.

6. A bidet according to claim 1, wherein the vessel has filling meansconnectible with the water supply of the fixture.

7. A bidet according to claim 1, wherein the vessel has a hollow rimwith outlet ports feeding into the vessel and means for conveyingfixture-supplied water to said rim.

8. A bidet according to claim 1, wherein the vessel has an aperture inthe bottom, a spray nozzle therein, and means for supplying water underpressure thereto.

9. A bidet according to claim 1, wherein the vessel has a hollow rimdivided to provide two separate passageways, one being connectable withthe water supply of the fixture and the other having an outlet at thedischarge end of the apron, and means for selectively connecting saidpassageways with the vessel.

10. A bidet according to claim 9, having a manually operable pressuresuction pump for discharging water from the vessel to the spray nozzle.

11. A bidet according to claim 1, being of a mouldable synthetic plasticthat is stable under temperature of up to at least approximately 210 F.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,872,278 8/1932 Gyidetti et a1.47 2,065,104 12/1936 Stamberger 4-7 6 3,398,408 8/1968 Capraro 4-73,400,409 9/ 1968 James 4 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,871 7/ 1905 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner

